Mouse apparatus with status indication function

Abstract

A mouse apparatus with a status indication function is placed on a placement area. The mouse apparatus with a status indication function includes a light emitting module, a mouse circuit, and a microcontroller. The microcontroller controls the light emitting module to emit a light toward an indication area adjacent to the placement area in response to a status indication signal.

Description

MOUSE APPARATUS WITH STATUS INDICATION FUNCTIONCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Taiwan Patent Application No. 113113385, filed April 10, 2024, Taiwan Patent Application No. 113203517, filed April 10, 2024 (which issued as Taiwan Patent No. M659930 on September 1, 2024), and Chinese Patent Application No.202410455818.6, filed April 16, 2024, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a mouse apparatus, and in particular to a mouse apparatus with a status indication function.BACKGROUND

[0003] Mouses are a common kind of electronic devices and are used for controlling the cursor on a screen to control, for example, operations of a computer, and thus are very important.

[0004] However, most of the mouses available can only control the cursor on the screen, and do not have a status indication function (e.g., for indicating reception of an e-mail or indicating the battery power of the mouse), which is a big disadvantage.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned problem, the present disclosure aims to provide a mouse apparatus with a status indication function.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose of the present disclosure, the mouse apparatus with a status indication function of the present disclosure is placed on a placement area of a use plane, wherein the periphery of the mouse apparatus with a status indication function is vertically projected on the use plane to define the placement area, an indication area of the use plane is defined as adjacent to the placement area, and the mouse apparatus with a status indication function comprises: a light emitting module, a mouse circuit, and a microcontroller, electrically connected to the light emitting module and the mouse circuit, wherein themicrocontroller controls the light emitting module to emit a light toward the indication area in response to a status indication signal.

[0007] Further, in a specific embodiment of the mouse apparatus with a status indication function of the present disclosure mentioned above, the light emitting module includes: a rightangle prism, having a cathetus light incidence surface, a cathetus light emergence surface, and a hypotenuse reflection surface; and a light emitting circuit, configured to face the cathetus light incidence surface and electrically connected to the microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller controls the light emitting circuit to emit the light in response to the status indication signal, and the light emitted by the light emitting circuit first enters the right-angle prism through the cathetus light incidence surface to reach the hypotenuse reflection surface, then is reflected by the hypotenuse reflection surface to the cathetus light emergence surface, and then leaves the rightangle prism through the cathetus light emergence surface.

[0008] Further, in a specific embodiment of the mouse apparatus with a status indication function of the present disclosure mentioned above, the light emitting circuit includes: a light emitting diode, configured to face the cathetus light incidence surface; and a light emitting diode driver, electrically connected to the microcontroller and the light emitting diode, wherein the microcontroller, in response to the status indication signal, controls the light emitting diode driver to drive the light emitting diode to emit the light.

[0009] Further, in a specific embodiment of the mouse apparatus with a status indication function of the present disclosure mentioned above, the light emitting module further includes: a projection sheet, configured to face the cathetus light emergence surface and having an image, wherein the light leaving the right-angle prism through the cathetus light emergence surface passes through the image, such that the image is formed and projected onto the indication area.

[0010] Further, in a specific embodiment of the mouse apparatus with a status indication function of the present disclosure mentioned above, the light emitting diode is a white light emitting diode; and a computer generates the status indication signal upon reception of an e-mail and transfers the status indication signal to the microcontroller in a wired or wireless manner.

[0011] Further, in a specific embodiment of the mouse apparatus with a status indication function of the present disclosure mentioned above, the mouse apparatus with a status indication function further includes: a battery; and a voltage detector, electrically connected to the microcontroller and the battery, wherein the voltage detector detects a voltage of the battery and,when the voltage of the battery is lower than a preset voltage, generates the status indication signal and transfers the status indication signal to the microcontroller; and the light emitting diode is a white light emitting diode.

[0012] Further, in a specific embodiment of the mouse apparatus with a status indication function of the present disclosure mentioned above, the light emitting diode is a white light emitting diode; and the status indication signal is pre-stored in the microcontroller.

[0013] Further, in a specific embodiment of the mouse apparatus with a status indication function of the present disclosure mentioned above, the light emitting diode is a multi-color light emitting diode; a computer generates the status indication signal upon reception of an e-mail and transfers the status indication signal to the microcontroller in a wired or wireless manner; and the light is red, green, or blue.

[0014] Further, in a specific embodiment of the mouse apparatus with a status indication function of the present disclosure mentioned above, the mouse apparatus with a status indication function further includes: a battery; and a voltage detector, electrically connected to the microcontroller and the battery, wherein the voltage detector detects a voltage of the battery and, when the voltage of the battery is lower than a preset voltage, generates the status indication signal and transfers the status indication signal to the microcontroller; the light emitting diode is a multi-color light emitting diode; and the light is red, green, or blue.

[0015] Further, in a specific embodiment of the mouse apparatus with a status indication function of the present disclosure mentioned above, the mouse apparatus with a status indication function includes two light emitting modules, wherein the microcontroller controls one of the light emitting modules to emit the light toward the indication area in response to the status indication signal, and controls the other one of the light emitting modules to emit another light toward another indication area in response to another status indication signal.

[0016] The effect of the present disclosure is enabling the mouse to obtain a status indication function.

[0017] To better understand the technique, method, and effect of the present disclosure and achieve the intended purpose, please refer to the detailed description and drawings below, which may also help understand the purpose, characteristics, and features of the present disclosure in a deeper and more concrete manner. However, the drawings are provided merely for reference and description, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the appearance of a mouse apparatus with a status indication function according to the present disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective three-dimensional schematic diagram of a mouse apparatus with a status indication function according to the present disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a light emitting module according to the present disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a light emitting module according to the present disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a usage scenario of a light emitting module according to the present disclosure.

[0023] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a usage scenario of a mouse apparatus with a status indication function according to the present disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 7 is a simple schematic diagram showing a side view of a usage scenario of a mouse apparatus with a status indication function according to the present disclosure.

[0025] FIG. 8 is a circuit block diagram of an embodiment of a mouse apparatus with a status indication function according to the present disclosure.

[0026] FIG. 9 is a circuit block diagram of another embodiment of a mouse apparatus with a status indication function according to the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] In the present disclosure, many specific details are provided for full understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure. However, those skilled in the art could understand that the present disclosure can be implemented even without one or more of these specific details; and in other cases, commonly known details are not shown or described to avoid obscuring the features of the present disclosure. The technical content and detailed description of the present disclosure are described in detail below, in conjunction with drawings.

[0028] Please refer to FIG. 7, which is a simple schematic diagram showing a side view of a usage scenario of a mouse apparatus 10 with a status indication function according to the present disclosure. The mouse apparatus 10 with a status indication function of the present disclosure isplaced on a placement area 42 of a use plane 40 (e.g., a desktop or mouse pad); and the periphery of the mouse apparatus 10 with a status indication function is vertically projected on the use plane 40 to define the placement area 42. An indication area 44 of the use plane 40 is defined as adjacent to the placement area 42; and the indication area 44 is an area of the use plane 40 other than the placement area 42, such as a front area (not numbered in FIG. 7), a diagonally front area (not numbered in FIG. 7), or a side area (not numbered in FIG. 7) of the placement area 42 not blocked by the arm (not shown in FIG. 7) or palm (not shown in FIG. 7) of a user (not shown in FIG. 7).

[0029] The mouse apparatus 10 with a status indication function includes a light emitting module 2, a mouse circuit 306, and a microcontroller 302, where the microcontroller 302 is electrically connected to the light emitting module 2 and the mouse circuit 306. The microcontroller 302 controls the light emitting module 2 to emit a light 308 toward the indication area 44 in response to a status indication signal 304. That is to say, the light emitting module 2 does not emit the light 308 toward the placement area 42 or parallel to the use plane 40, but instead, emits the light 308 toward, e.g., the front area, the diagonally front area or the side area, such that the user can notice the light 308 cast on the indication area 44 and used to respond to the status indication signal 304.

[0030] Please refer to FIG. 4, which is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the light emitting module 2 according to the present disclosure; please also refer to FIG. 5, which is a schematic diagram showing a usage scenario of the light emitting module 2 according to the present disclosure; please also refer to FIG. 8, which is a circuit block diagram of an embodiment of the mouse apparatus 10 with a status indication function according to the present disclosure; and please also refer to FIG. 7. The light emitting module 2 includes a right-angle prism 22, a light emitting circuit 24 and a projection sheet 23. The right-angle prism 22 has a cathetus light incidence surface 221, a cathetus light emergence surface 222, and a hypotenuse reflection surface 23. The light emitting circuit 24 includes a light emitting diode 242 and a light emitting diode driver 310. The projection sheet 23 has an image 231. The mouse apparatus 10 with a status indication function further includes a universal serial bus connection interface 316.

[0031] The projection sheet 23 is configured to face the cathetus light emergence surface 222; the light emitting circuit 24 is configured to face the cathetus light incidence surface 221 and is electrically connected to the microcontroller 302; the light emitting diode 242 is configured to facethe cathetus light incidence surface 221; and the light emitting diode driver 310 is electrically connected to the microcontroller 302 and the light emitting diode 242.

[0032] The microcontroller 302, in response to the status indication signal 304, controls the light emitting diode driver 310 to drive (e.g., by using a pulse-width modulation signal) the light emitting diode 242 to emit the light 308, and the light 308 emitted by the light emitting diode 242 first enters the right-angle prism 22 through the cathetus light incidence surface 221 to reach the hypotenuse reflection surface 223, then is reflected by the hypotenuse reflection surface 223 to the cathetus light emergence surface 222, and then leaves the right-angle prism 22 through the cathetus light emergence surface 222. The light 308 leaving the right-angle prism 22 through the cathetus light emergence surface 222 passes through the image 231, such that the image 231 is formed and projected onto the indication area 44. The light emitting module 2 of the present disclosure uses reflection and transmission by the right-angle prism 22 to reach the image 231, so that the light 308 can be short-focused in front of the mouse, and the image 231 can be clearly formed and projected to the front of the mouse, thereby achieving clear projection.

[0033] The light emitting diode 242 may be, for example, a white light emitting diode, but is not limited thereto in the present disclosure. In a specific embodiment, a computer 50 generates the status indication signal 304 upon reception of an e-mail, and transfers the status indication signal 304 through the universal serial bus connection interface 316 to the microcontroller 302 in a wired manner, and the image 231 is an envelope pattern, such that the user can notice the envelope pattern cast on the indication area 44 and realize that the computer 50 receives an e-mail.

[0034] In another specific embodiment, the status indication signal 304 is pre-stored in the microcontroller 302, and is, for example, a mouse start signal; herein the image 231 is a mouse brand pattern, so that the user can see the mouse brand pattern cast on the indication area 44 when the mouse apparatus 10 with a status indication function is started.

[0035] Please refer to FIG. 9, which is a circuit block diagram of another embodiment of the mouse apparatus 10 with a status indication function according to the present disclosure; and please also refer to FIG. 5. The mouse apparatus 10 with a status indication function further includes a battery 312, a voltage detector 314 and a wireless signal transceiver circuit 318, where the voltage detector 314 is electrically connected to the microcontroller 302 and the battery 312. In a specific embodiment, a computer 50 generates the status indication signal 304 upon reception of an e-mail, and transfers the status indication signal 304 to the wireless signal transceiver circuit318 in a wireless manner, and then the wireless signal transceiver circuit 318 transfers the status indication signal 304 to the microcontroller 302; herein the image 231 is an envelope pattern, so that the user can notice the envelope pattern cast on the indication area 44 and realize that the computer 50 receives an e-mail.

[0036] In another specific embodiment, the voltage detector 314 detects a voltage of the battery 312 and, when the voltage of the battery 312 is lower than a preset voltage, generates the status indication signal 304 and transfers the status indication signal 304 to the microcontroller 302; herein the image 231 is a battery pattern, so that the user can notice the battery pattern cast on the indication area 44 and realize that the voltage of the battery 312 is lower than the preset voltage.

[0037] The light emitting diode 242, besides being a white light emitting diode, may also be a multi-color light emitting diode, and in this case, the mouse apparatus 10 with a status indication function of the present disclosure may not include the projection sheet 23, for example, but is not limited thereto. That is to say, the present disclosure directly uses the color of the light 308 emitted by the light emitting diode 242 to respond to the status indication signal 304.

[0038] For example, please refer to FIG. 8 again. The computer 50 generates the status indication signal 304 upon reception of an e-mail, and transfers the status indication signal 304 through the universal serial bus connection interface 316 to the microcontroller 302 in a wired manner; herein the light 308 is red, green, or blue, so that the user can notice the color (e.g., blue) of the light 308 cast on the indication area 44 and realize that the computer 50 receives an e-mail.

[0039] For another example, please refer to FIG. 9 again. The computer 50 generates the status indication signal 304 upon reception of an e-mail, and transfers the status indication signal 304 to the wireless signal transceiver circuit 318 in a wireless manner, and then the wireless signal transceiver circuit 318 transfers the status indication signal 304 to the microcontroller 302; herein the light 308 is red, green, or blue, so that the user can notice the color (e.g., blue) of the light 308 cast on the indication area 44 and realize that the computer 50 receives an e-mail. The voltage detector 314 detects the voltage of the battery 312 and, when the voltage of the battery 312 is lower than the preset voltage, generates the status indication signal 304 and transfers the status indication signal 304 to the microcontroller 302; herein the light 308 is red, green, or blue, so that the user can notice the color (e.g., red) of the light 308 cast on the indication area 44 and realize that the voltage of the battery 312 is lower than the preset voltage.

[0040] The present disclosure also may include two light emitting modules 2. The microcontroller 302 controls one of the light emitting modules 2 to emit the light 308 toward the indication area 44 in response to the status indication signal 304, and controls the other one of the light emitting modules 2 to emit another light 308 toward another indication area 44 in response to another status indication signal 304 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 6). For example, one of the light emitting modules 2 relates to whether the computer 50 receives an e-mail, while the other one of the light emitting modules 2 relates to whether the voltage of the battery 312 is lower than the preset voltage.

[0041] Furthermore, please refer to FIG. 1, which is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the appearance of the mouse apparatus 10 with a status indication function according to the present disclosure; please also refer to FIG. 2, which is a partial perspective three-dimensional schematic diagram of the mouse apparatus 10 with a status indication function according to the present disclosure; please also refer to FIG. 3, which is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the light emitting module 2 according to the present disclosure; please also refer to FIG. 6, which is a schematic diagram showing a usage scenario of the mouse apparatus 10 with a status indication function according to the present disclosure; and please also refer to FIGs. 4, 5, and 7-9.

[0042] Furthermore, the mouse apparatus 10 with a status indication function further includes a mouse body 1. The mouse body 1 includes a shell 11, the shell 11 includes a front side wall 12, and at least one port 13 is provided on the front side wall 12. The light emitting module 2, the mouse circuit 306, and the microcontroller 302 are accommodated in the shell 11. The light emitting module 2 is partially exposed outside the at least one port 13. The cathetus light emergence surface 222 is configured to face the at least one port 13.

[0043] Furthermore, the projection sheet 23 is disposed between the cathetus light emergence surface 222, and the at least one port 13; and the hypotenuse reflection surface 223 is disposed upward, while the cathetus light incidence surface 221 and the cathetus light emergence surface 222 are disposed downward, such that the image 231 is formed and projected onto the indication area 44.

[0044] Furthermore, the light emitting module 2 further includes an accommodating box 21, two oblique openings 211 are disposed at two ends of the accommodating box 21, and the rightangle prism 22 is accommodated in the accommodating box 21. The projection sheet 23 is inserted in one of the two oblique openings 211, and the light emitting circuit 24 is inserted in the otherone of the two oblique openings 211. An inner top wall 212 connected to the two oblique openings 211 is present inside the accommodating box 21, the hypotenuse reflection surface 223 is attached onto the inner top wall 212, the cathetus light incidence surface 221 and the cathetus light emergence surface 222 are configured to face the two oblique openings 211, and each of the two oblique openings 211 gradually retracts inward from the inner top wall 212.

[0045] Furthermore, the light emitting module 2 further includes a reflective layer 25, and the inner top wall 212 or the hypotenuse reflection surface 223 is coated with the reflective layer 25, such that the light 308, when reaching the hypotenuse reflection surface 223, is reflected by the reflective layer 25; or the accommodating box 21 is made from a reflective material, such that the light 308, when reaching the hypotenuse reflection surface 223, is reflected by the inner top wall 212 of the accommodating box 21. The light emitting circuit 24 further includes a circuit board 241 inserted in the other one of the two oblique openings 211, and the light emitting diode 242 is disposed on the circuit board 241.

[0046] Furthermore, the mouse body 1 further includes a left button 14 and a right button 15 which are exposed at the top of the shell 11 and formed above the front side wall 12. The at least one port 13 and one of the light emitting modules 2 are disposed below the left button 14, while another port 13 and the other one of the light emitting modules 2 are disposed below the right button 15. The images 231 of the light emitting modules 2 are different from each other. The projection sheet 23 is a photographic film, and the image 231 is a printed layer printed on the inner surface or outer surface of the photographic film.

[0047] The mouse apparatus 10 with a status indication function (or the mouse circuit 306) of the present disclosure further includes many commonly known mouse components not shown in the drawings, such as a charging circuit (if the mouse includes a rechargeable battery), a power adapter (e.g., to convert an input voltage or the voltage of the battery into 1.9 V, 3.3 V, or 4.5 V to be provided to various electronic circuits in the mouse), a memory (e.g., a flash memory), a light detector, an encoder, an intermediate button, a resolution adjustment button, a side button, various communication interfaces (e.g., a serial peripheral interface and an integrated bus circuit), and so on, to perform operations of the mouse. The structures, operations and functions of these commonly known components will not be redundantly elaborated in the present disclosure.

[0048] The effect of the present disclosure is to enable the mouse to have a status indication function.

[0049] Even though the present disclosure is described above by referring to the embodiments, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the details thereof. Various replacements and modifications have already been set out in the foregoing description, and those of ordinary skill in the art would come up with other replacements and modifications. Therefore, all the replacements and modifications are intended to be included in the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A mouse apparatus with a status indication function vertically projected on a use plane to define a placement area, the mouse apparatus comprising: a light emitting module; a mouse circuit; and a microcontroller, electrically connected to the light emitting module and the mouse circuit, wherein the microcontroller controls the light emitting module to emit, in response to a status indication signal, a light toward an indication area of the use plane for the mouse apparatus, and further wherein the indication area of the use plane is defined as adjacent to the placement area.

2. The mouse apparatus with a status indication function according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting module comprises: a right-angle prism, having a cathetus light incidence surface, a cathetus light emergence surface, and a hypotenuse reflection surface; and a light emitting circuit, configured to face a cathetus light incidence surface and electrically connected to the microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller controls the light emitting circuit to emit the light in response to the status indication signal, and the light emitted by the light emitting circuit first enters the right-angle prism through the cathetus light incidence surface to reach the hypotenuse reflection surface, then is reflected by the hypotenuse reflection surface to the cathetus light emergence surface, and then leaves the right-angle prism through the cathetus light emergence surface.

3. The mouse apparatus with a status indication function according to claim 2, wherein the light emitting circuit comprises: a light emitting diode, configured to face the cathetus light incidence surface; anda light emitting diode driver, electrically connected to the microcontroller and the light emitting diode, wherein the microcontroller, in response to the status indication signal, controls the light emitting diode driver to drive the light emitting diode to emit the light.

4. The mouse apparatus with a status indication function according to claim 3, wherein the light emitting module further comprises: a projection sheet, configured to face the cathetus light emergence surface and having an image, wherein the light leaving the right-angle prism through the cathetus light emergence surface passes through the image, such that the image is formed and projected onto the indication area.

5. The mouse apparatus with a status indication function according to claim 4, wherein the light emitting diode is a white light emitting diode; and a computer generates the status indication signal upon reception of an e-mail and transfers the status indication signal to the microcontroller in a wired or wireless manner.

6. The mouse apparatus with a status indication function according to claim 4, further comprising: a battery; and a voltage detector, electrically connected to the microcontroller and the battery, wherein the voltage detector detects a voltage of the battery and, when the voltage of the battery is lower than a preset voltage, generates the status indication signal and transfers the status indication signal to the microcontroller; and the light emitting diode is a white light emitting diode.

7. The mouse apparatus with a status indication function according to claim 4, wherein the light emitting diode is a white light emitting diode; and the status indication signal is pre-stored in the microcontroller.

8. The mouse apparatus with a status indication function according to claim 3, wherein the light emitting diode is a multi-color light emitting diode; a computer generates the statusindication signal upon reception of an e-mail and transfers the status indication signal to the microcontroller in a wired or wireless manner; and the light is red, green, or blue.

9. The mouse apparatus with a status indication function according to claim 3, further comprising: a battery; and a voltage detector, electrically connected to the microcontroller and the battery, wherein the voltage detector detects a voltage of the battery and, when the voltage of the battery is lower than a preset voltage, generates the status indication signal and transfers the status indication signal to the microcontroller; the light emitting diode is a multi-color light emitting diode; and the light is red, green, or blue.

10. The mouse apparatus with a status indication function according to claim 1, comprising two light emitting modules, wherein the microcontroller controls one of the light emitting modules to emit the light toward the indication area in response to the status indication signal, and controls the other one of the light emitting modules to emit another light toward another indication area in response to another status indication signal.

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